Sheridan Smith, Jodie Comer and Michael Fassbender: The A-list stars who made appearances in Holby City

Holby City has come to an end tonight (Tuesday March 29) after 23 years. The BBC drama series, which follows the highs and lows of staff and patients on the wards of fictional Holby City hospital, began in 1999.

The first series began with an original cast of 11 main actors including former Coronation Street actress and Waterloo Road star Angela Griffin, former EastEnders actor Michael French and Manchester actor Ian Curtis. And the cast has also included Patsy Kensit who joined the BBC drama as a big-name actress in 2007 as nurse Faye Morton and stayed for four years.

In June last year the BBC released a statement to announce that Holby City had been cancelled. The 'difficult' decision was made as part of the broadcaster's plans to makemore programmes to serve across the country. During its time on screen Holby City has been nominated for more than 100 television awards and has won 10 awards including the 2008 British Academy Television Award for Best Continuing Drama.

READ MORE : Corrie favourites Sam Aston and Shayne Ward beam with pride as other halves show off growing baby bumps

And its most recent series' have drawn over four million viewers per week.

The show being axed caused a backlash from Holby City viewers and past and present cast members. Fans of the show launched a petition to save the soap, which reached more than 30,000 signatures in a matter of days - but sadly this wasn't enough to change the BBC's decision.

Here look back at some of the very famous faces and A-listers who have appeared in the show.

Hollywood star Michael Fassbender played a patient who had his spleen taken out in the episode Ghosts in 2002.

The Academy Award and BAFTA-nominated actor has gone on to star in big budget films including